Prophets sin. Prophets are fallen human beings. Prophets are imperfect. And yet, there’s a trend in the Church requiring prophets to be perfect. Mind you, that expectation is unreasonable. Further, prophets don’t automatically have a “word from the Lord”. Prophets have bills to pay. Prophets, like other believers, must seek God and draw near to God. Prophets are vital to the Church. Yet, the current expectations on prophets is unsustainable. That’s what I’d like to talk about in this post.
Recently, known leaders within the prophetic movement have sinned. Their sin was grievous. And their sin impacted numerous other leaders within the body of Christ. Candidly, I’ve seen some posts by believers on this issue that cause me to shudder. Again, false teachings create false expectations among believers regarding prophets.
On the other side, I’ve witnessed prophets who enjoyed their veneration. That veneration created an unhealthy environment for the prophetic ministry they were involved in. Their words of knowledge contained accurate information. But the fruit of their lives often betrayed the ministry they offered. Further, it placed other prophets under suspicion due to their false doctrine, ungodly character, or severe misdeeds.
What happened? They sinned. And they gave in to sin. Further, and worse yet, they tried to justify their sin. Rather than repenting, they started making lame excuses for their severe deficiencies. As many other believers and ministers often do, they tried to cover up their failures, faults, and sins. As scripture says, “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.” Prov. 28:13, NLT.
Yet, in confessing sin, prophets must exercise godly wisdom. Why is that? Because whole swaths of the Church have bought in to the lie of perfectionism as being one of the requirements to be in the prophetic office. And they are willing to use ungodly means to slander, mock, criticize, judge, and condemn every prophet for the sins of a few prophets. When that happens, prophets face random acts of cruelty by believers, ministers, and churches.
Often, Jesus’s command on treating others as we want to be treated is forgotten. Forgiveness doesn’t take place. Gossip reigns. Prayer retreats. And the Church suffers in open daylight. As the scripture says, “because of you the name of God is blasphemed among the nations”. Rom. 2:24, New Heart English Bible. Strong language regarding sin from the Apostle Paul directed to the Jewish people.
Sin, all sin, must be repented of. We must deal with our sin. We must confront our sinful behaviors. Sin mustn’t be excused. No, it must be excised and removed by the only thing that can take the stain of sin away — the blood of Jesus. Whether prophet, or pastor, or priest, or patron, sin must be confessed, repented of, and removed by the redeeming blood that Jesus shed.
My suggestion: Rather than wallowing in sin, we should run to the fount that cleanses from sin. It’s that fount alone that can redeem sin laden people from their sinful behaviors — whether prophet, pastor, priest, or patron. Nothing else can remove sin’s stain. Nothing. And we must not forget that. Therapy isn’t the answer. No, the shed blood of Jesus is the only answer to sin.
As such, I’d like to take a moment and apply the blood of Jesus to this situation where prophets sinned.
Father, right now, by the blood of Jesus we approach you. We ask you to take away the reproaches caused by the sins of some. That the stain of sin would be removed. That any justification for any sin would be removed. Together, collectively, we join our hearts and hands in faith believing for the restoration of the fallen, the victims, the sponsors, and the enablers in this egregious matter. We, right now, apply the blood of Jesus to this matter and over your Church. May the grace of Christ abound to us, we pray. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
I want to invite you right now to receive Jesus’s cleansing blood over your life. I plead the blood of Jesus over you. Fallen prophet, I plead the blood of Jesus over you. Fallen believer, I plead the blood of Jesus over you. Fallen minister, I plead the blood of Jesus over you. That’s right! I plead the blood. Only one plea exists for the prophets who sins — Jesus’s blood.
Together, by pleading the blood of Jesus, we can make a difference. That should be our response to sin, all sin, no matter who commits that sin. As the hymn goes, What can wash away my sin? Nothing, but the blood of Jesus.
Let us pray!
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